Strategic modelling for the Games

The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games brought unprecedented pressure to transport networks, with millions of extra spectators travelling to events via public transport and roads changed significantly to accommodate athletes and officials as well as events such as the Marathon. Demand forecasting and modelling were used by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and its key delivery partners to estimate the level of additional demand facing transport networks and infrastructure. While this was used in a conventional way to plan infrastructure and service upgrades, it was also used in a new and innovative way to inform the public of likely disruption to influence their travel patterns.